20 years

By | September 12, 2021

Liberty Park, Saturday morning

Tribute in Light, Friday Night

I cannot believe it’s been twenty years since 9/11, even though I’ve been thinking about it since my Japan anniversary. Amazing to think how many alive now for whom it’s history and not something they lived through. I’ve already blown up social media, so for this just have Tribute in Light from the Ferry and one of my favorite spots: Liberty Park just south of the memorial. At the back, that’s St. Nicholas Church, which opened today after many years of fundraising challenges, to say the least. And toward the front is The Sphere, which was damaged but not destroyed: visible symbol of the city resiliency.

Fall: I love you and want you to stay around forever. You make running and existing so much more civil. Any 90 degree temps are my fault as I took the AC out of the window to put my year-old chair (best purchase ever!) back in its spot to watch TV with football, Law & Order on the horizon.

God’s Love We Deliver Cow Parade at Hudson Yards

Still working on my Labor Day/Hudson Valley post. That’s more about the destination anyway, so in the mean time have a cow parade and a run down with Kim and Deborah:

  • Sunday: I’d heard there was a new trail to the summit of Hook Mountain. After two tries, I still couldn’t find it so I used a highway turnoff I probably hadn’t in 25 years. Although it was foggy as hell, it was a fun hike. In high school, I knew that hike without thinking? Now? I need GPS. When did we get old?
  • never miss a Monday: while I have run to and from the Hook many times, I never had the chance to run the river-front trail. As I’d only walked it to the point the pavement ended (~ 3m RT), I forgot it had some sneaky hills. Luckily those were outweighed by the deer and gorgeous views. Fun 7m run to start off the week and cap off a gorgeous long weekend.
  • Tuesday: a good re-entry after a week off? Begin and end the day in Central Park.
  • Wednesday: I love my morning river route. I’ve run it probably 60+ times in quarantime. Today I did not want to be running concrete. Trails made me happy. I’m a city mouse, but ooph this re-entry was challenging.
  • Thursday: office run group, post-rain edition. Fall had arrived and we (and by we I mean me-I’m the tail runner) sped up a bit.

Yinka Shonibare, Poseidon 2020

Sunset from the Ferry

  • Friday: when a day “off” is 20,000 steps thanks to the Armory Show and a whim decision to walk down to the Memorial. I always go down on 9/11, but since I was halfway there I decided why not? It was a beautiful afternoon/evening and the sunset sky was absolute magic. The Armory Show was also pretty special in that it was the penultimate major event before everything shut down. Even with Delta, it felt like a little bit of normal and doesn’t the Yinka Shonibare piece look a little fitness-y?

Goodnight Moon

  • Saturday: the plan was sunrise at the memorial. The reality was a sunrise start, and 9.11 miles finishing overlooking the Statue of Liberty. It was really special to watch some of the commemoration from in front of Brookfield. I’ve gone down every anniversary since the museum opened in 2014 and even though I’d gone the eve, I felt I needed to go the morning of. Capped the day with a Pier I sunset catchup with a friend. Early sunsets and a jacket on the way home. <3
  • Sunday: New York Giants home opener. Friends I haven’t seen in too long and will be so good to be back in the stadium.

13 thoughts on “20 years

  1. Darlene S Cardillo

    NYC is such a special place. Thanks for sharing all yaried views from sunrises to sunsets and artwork.

    20 years has sped by.

    Glad to you got some hiking in. What did we do without a GPS?

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I swear we have brain atrophy from now needing the GPS, and contacts in our phone
      Always happy to share my city

      Reply
  2. Jenny

    Yes, my daughter came home from school and said the teacher told them all to ask their parents where they were on 9/11. Like you said, funny to think that it’s just “history” for them. I was trying to explain to her how shocking it all was but I don’t think she really got it. I’ve never been to the Memorial. One of these days I’ll get back to NYC to see it!
    Glad you’re enjoying some fall weather- it’s running heaven, right?

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      when I was in 11th grade we did a decades project and my group was assigned the 60s. It was so cool/surreal to bring in mom’s yearbook and see the eternal flame from JFK. At 16ish it was amazing to think she’d lived through something we were learning in school. But now on the other side it feels so weird.
      Fall was nice for a minute. Can you come get your weather please? Summer happened again.

      Reply
  3. Coco

    I can’t imagine being in NYC this weekend β€” let alone 20 years ago. Thanks for sharing the photos. I’m honestly relieved that the anniversary is behind us. Not that the danger is over, but I was worried about the big day.

    Reply
  4. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Finding hikes (and especially parking for hikes) can be really challenging! When I was at my mom this week I saw where the nearest parking for the rail trail is (at least, I think it’s the nearest), and was thinking maybe I’d run there next time. And now there’s the whole car problem . . .

    Living in the city has to make 9/11 even more somber, but it was a beautiful weekend — I’m not sure I can say “enjoy” ceremonies, but they are so meaningful there, I have to imagine.

    We have actually never made it to the memorial. We’ve been to NYC so few times since we moved back here. πŸ™

    Reply
  5. Michelle D.

    I loved seeing all of your photos on IG.

    20 years really does feel like a lifetime, and yet I can remember every detail of that day and the days that followed.

    Reply
  6. Liz Dexter

    I’ve loved your photos this week, too. It’s so weird to see 9/11 explained on the BBC for those who weren’t born or weren’t old enough to remember it.

    Reply
  7. Wendy

    Way back in the day, my sister and I did a sister trip to NYC and one of the highlights was viewing the city from the top of one of the twin towers! I still have the ticket stub. Things have sure changed since 9/11 and yeah, I can believe it’s been 20 years. My boys were little when it happened! You did such a nice job commemorating the day with your walk, run, and all the photos you shared on IG.

    Have fun at the game today!

    Reply
  8. Jessie

    20 years…so crazy how quickly time moves. I run with a gal who is only 25 and it is nuts to hear her note that she was only 5 and really doesn’t have any memories of it, other than ‘all the adults were really sad”. I wonder if that’s how some kids will feel about January 6th or Covid in general.

    I’m enjoying the cooler fall temps too, but not quite ready for summer to be over. πŸ™

    Reply
  9. Kimberly Hatting

    The 20-year anniversary is so surreal. I may have told you, but our oldest was in second grade when it happened. That particular week, they were asked to bring in a baby picture for show and tell. And I found a pic of her and I, when she was only a couple months old, with the towers behind us. Ironic, no? On a happier note…I love all those painted cows! They remind me of a fundraiser the UofI has had in the past (they’ve done it at least two times that I’m aware of) where businesses, charities and various clubs/organizations paint/decorate a statue of Herky (the UofI mascot) and they’re auctioned off and then displayed throughout the city.

    Reply
  10. Marcia

    Who knew 20 years could fly so quickly? Sheesh. I am so loving all of your beautiful pics. I was loving the cooler temps but now we’re back to 90…for a bit anyway. I won’t complain. The super cold will be here before we know it.

    Reply

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